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Auto alternatives for the 21st centuryTue, 03 Mar 2015 19:06:40 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.2GM To Bet On Natural Gas With Bi-Fuel Impalahttp://www.hybridcars.com/gm-to-bet-on-natural-gas-for-bi-fuel-2015-chevy-impala/
http://www.hybridcars.com/gm-to-bet-on-natural-gas-for-bi-fuel-2015-chevy-impala/#commentsThu, 17 Oct 2013 00:55:33 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=81353Today General Motors CEO Dan Akerson announced its 2015 Chevrolet Impala to go on sale next summer will be offered with bi-fuel capability. Fleet and retail customers will have their choice of filling up with ordinary gasoline or compressed natural gas (CNG) and range would be 350 miles on gas, and/or 150 miles on CNG. […]

]]>Today General Motors CEO Dan Akerson announced its 2015 Chevrolet Impala to go on sale next summer will be offered with bi-fuel capability.

Fleet and retail customers will have their choice of filling up with ordinary gasoline or compressed natural gas (CNG) and range would be 350 miles on gas, and/or 150 miles on CNG.

The move follows inroads already taken with bi-fuel trucks by Detroit automakers, and as question marks hover over GM as to its degree of dedication to electrification, it appears poised to put a new pony in the race that can “capitalize on plentiful clean, domestic natural gas.”

Thus far, GM is the only automaker to offer a full-sized bi-fuel sedan, and Akerson announced the 2015 Impala during remarks at an energy summit marking the 40th anniversary of the OPEC Oil Embargo.

Click image to enlarge.

Titled “OPEC Oil Embargo + 40: A National Summit on Energy Security,” the summit at which GM announced the U.S. sourced fuel burner was sponsored by Securing America’s Future Energy, or SAFE.

There the non-partisan group afforded Akerson opportunity to address political, business and military leaders as they assessed America’s oil dependence since the 1973 oil embargo

“We know that U.S. energy security won’t come from a one-off moonshot,” Akerson said. “It will flow from our systematic investment in technology and innovation… our drive to get more from existing energy sources and renewables… our commitment to conservation… and it will be assured by fully and safely exploiting our shale gas reserves.”

Akerson’s choice of words is curious as the Chevy Volt was called a “moonshot” and to date, with the exception of the pricey Cadillac ELR, its technology remains one-off, with no variants known pending at any price, let alone the average new car price.

In any case, in a statement, GM cited the California Air Resources Board as offering support for its choice of natural gas.

“Natural gas is a cleaner-burning transportation fuel compared to petroleum products, and costs significantly less than gasoline at current prices,” said GM. “CNG vehicles typically have 20 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline-powered cars.”

The California Air Resources Board also happens to be the biggest driving force for battery powered and fuel cell electric vehicles, but this was a day its statements were used to champion natural gas.

On this front, he said GM is working closely with 14 of America’s largest unions and environmental groups through the Blue-Green Alliance, and has relationships with regulators that are “more constructive than ever.”

“Akerson also reiterated a call he made earlier this year for the Administration and Congress to create a new, consumer-driven national energy policy from a position of strength and abundance,” said GM in its statement.

GM says it intends to save 12 billion gallons of gasoline from being burned in its 2011 to 2017 model year vehicles.

The competitiveness of its Malibu and Buicks also will remain to be seen compared to full hybrids such as offered by Toyota, Honda and Ford.

It’s a conservative effort that does appear to be moving forward.

Automotive News reported Akerson said GM aims to sell most of the dual-fuel Impalas to government and commercial fleets.

Akerson said initially it will be slow take-off, and if GM can sell 750 or 1,000 units in model year 2015, this would be a “home run.”

No price was announced for the bi-fuel Impala, but regular models start at around $27,700. A Honda Civic designed to burn natural gas costs several thousands over a regulr one, and a Ford F-150 designed as a bi-fuel goes for $7,500 to $9,500 more than a non-CNG version, plus $315 to prepare the engine.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/gm-to-bet-on-natural-gas-for-bi-fuel-2015-chevy-impala/feed/0200 New Propel Stations Planned For Next Two Yearshttp://www.hybridcars.com/200-new-propel-stations-planned-two-years-67406
http://www.hybridcars.com/200-new-propel-stations-planned-two-years-67406#commentsFri, 14 Dec 2012 20:28:59 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=49952Residents of California and Washington will have Propel stations closer at hand if all goes for the company’s expansion plans. Propel Fuels says it has closed on the initial phase of its Series D round of funding with $11 million in equity capital from existing investors Nth Power, Craton Equity Partners, and @Ventures as well as […]

]]>Residents of California and Washington will have Propel stations closer at hand if all goes for the company’s expansion plans.

Propel Fuels says it has closed on the initial phase of its Series D round of funding with $11 million in equity capital from existing investors Nth Power, Craton Equity Partners, and @Ventures as well as a new investor, Gentry Venture Partners.

In addition, the company has secured $10 million in debt financing.

Propel currently operates stations throughout California and Washington State with more than 200 stations planned for new and existing markets over the next two years.

Propel says the new funding will allow the company to accelerate the build-out of its network of stations that aims to offer drivers the cleanest, most sustainable, domestically produced fuels on the market today.

Propel currently operates a growing network of stations that provide renewable fuels (Flex Fuel E85, biodiesel blends) alongside the conventional gasoline that most drivers use today.

Offering a better station experience that reaches beyond fuel is a major goal of the company.

Propel also enables drivers to offset carbon from their fuel purchases, improve their vehicle’s fuel economy, find rideshare opportunities, tune bicycles, and recycle on the go.

Propel is the only fueling company in the country known to bring drivers the opportunity to offset their emissions at the pump through the company’s CarbonOffset program.

This year, Propel was named to Inc. Magazine’s list of the Fastest Growing Private Companies (the 17th fastest growing energy company); the 8th Fastest Growing Private Company in Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal; and the 14th Fastest Growing Private Company in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times.

“The continuing support of our existing investors, the new investment from Gentry, and the access to additional debt capital is a strong endorsement for our vision, our accomplishments, and team,” said Matt Horton, CEO of Propel. “This new funding, combined with grant funding from the State of California, will enable us to accelerate the build out of our alternative fuel stations across state, offering consumers true choice and a better experience at the pump.”

Propel says that as part of the investment by Gentry, Thomas B. Raterman, a Partner, has joined Propel’s Board of Directors. Raterman has more than 30 years of corporate finance, investment banking, and executive management with rapidly growing entrepreneurial companies.

“We’re witnessing a revolution in transportation, whether it’s innovative new enzymes to create clean fuels, or whole new drivetrains and power systems in the vehicles themselves,” said Raterman. “Propel is creating a position as a trusted source of the most advanced fuels on the market today – no matter what type of vehicle you drive. We’re excited to help them succeed.”